Browns general manager John Dorsey woke up March 12 feeling dangerous.

The open negotiating portion of free agency began quietly for the Browns on March 11, but early on March 12 the Browns and defensive tackle Shelton Richardson agreed on a deal that will pay him $39 million for the next three years with $21.5 million guaranteed. The story was first reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN.

The contract does not become official until the new league year begins at 4 p.m. March 13.

Defensive tackle was targeted as an area the Browns were eager to upgrade this offseason. Richardson made 48 tackles and 4.5 sacks with the Vikings last season.

The 6-foot-3, 295-pound defender was picked 13th overall by the New York Jets in 2013. He played four seasons with the Jets, was with the Seattle Seahawks in 2017 and the Vikings last season. He has started 87 of 89 games in his career and totaled 333 tackles and 23.5 sacks.

Richardson was suspended four games in 2015 for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He was also suspended for the first game of 2016 for driving 143 mph in July, 2015, but he has been clean since then. He told reporters in Minnesota last year that fatherhood has turned him into a different man.

“Life happens,” Richardson said. “I have a daughter now. I want to be a positive impact. I tell (people) now that I’m in slow motion. I ain’t going nowhere too fast.

“I’m definitely on the straight and narrow now. Grab me a drink once in a blue moon, but that’s about it.”

“Early in his career, it looked as if Richardson was on the path to becoming one of the league’s elite 3-techniques. Over the last three years, though, he’s never quite taken the next step. His 83 pressures over the last two seasons are solid, but a clear step below the top pass-rushers in this class.”

The Browns ranked 28th in run defense last season, allowing an average of 135.2 yards a game. They allowed an average of 4.7 yards a rush and 15 rushing touchdowns.

Richardson is the second upgrade made to the defensive line this offseason. Last week, the Browns agreed to trade right guard Kevin Zeitler to the New York Giants for defensive end Olivier Vernon. The trade won’t become official until 4 p.m. March 13.